Hutchinson Cougars have the following stamped on the sidewall "<<rear TIRE ROTATION front >>" I installed them per instructions but the front tire just looks wrong, with the "direction" of the tire seeming to be backwards (pointy part of knobs facing back, instead of forward when you spin the wheel in the direction of rotation) as opposed to the rear tire which appears "right." I was going to remount the front tire so it looked right, but the directions from the manuf are clear and gave me pause. Anyone figure this out? My googling has yielded not much help. Any input would be appreciated.

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"We'll ride it until they pave it."

-Big Clyde

Had a conversation with Orven "Mr Hutchinson tires himself " and it has a lot to do with braking, visualize the tires from the bottom, contact spot, under braking and it may become clear. You may want to do this right after you wake up in the morning before the sun is High in the sky.

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"Just stop this walking shit and let's get this done"
Avidtesty (Arch 2019)

Enlightenment shines. That actually makes sense.

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"it can go full porno alley"

- Kimba - One love, many bikes - 2020

Seriously Hutchinson? I didn't think anyone still labeled tires like that. It sorta makes sense, and was once a shade tree mechanic trick years ago, but I don't buy it. I think it makes more sense to specifically engineer a tire for the front or rear application, or to optimize a tread for a specific rotation. Which is what most tire companies do nowadays. But maybe that's all advertising hype. There are so many variables, about the only difference I can honestly feel with my weak skills is big knobs vs. little knobs on a given surface. The only tire fact I know for sure is that SB8's suck. Try that Cougar both ways and see if you can tell the difference.

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Thus, if we are to understand the world, we should live somewhere between judgement and amazement — Alfredo Lopez Austin

Looks to me like the first tire in the pic should be rolling <--- (that way) in the front.

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If you are the big tree
We are the small axe

I agree with jam. The paddles will be facing in the braking direction on the bottom of the tire. If it were me, i would mount both tires in that direction. You aren't really gonna notice a climbing improvement.

Thanks everybody. I remounted the tire and it works great. Ride on.

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"We'll ride it until they pave it."

-Big Clyde